National Border Patrol Museum, El Paso

Description

The National Border Patrol Museum is an interesting place to visit. It's just a simple-looking museum but there are some unique contraptions to see, that people have created to try to get across the border. There are plenty of displays, such as a wooden ladder that once led to an underground tunnel, rope ladders that were used to climb over pedestrian fencing, smugglers' motorcycles and boats and motorized hang gliders, and seized weapons. One display shows slippers attached to shapes like an animal's hoof, used to mask human tracks in the desert.Other areas honor the border patrol agents that risk their lives to keep drugs out of the country and monitor the border. And some areas honor those who have died. There are also displays of tools that agents use, such as an infrared camera. There are helicopters, buggies, jeeps, and a boat, that kids can climb aboard (some are off-limits) and use to play imagination games.There is a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and bottled water.Outside the museum is a beautiful desert garden with mountain views, which leads to the El Paso Museum of Archaelogy. The archaeology museum is worth visiting while you're here!Avoid visiting the Wyler Aerial Tramway, which is a horrible experience.A lovely place to eat and hang out in El Paso is Fountains at Farah at Cielo Vista Mall.

Slippers with hoofs attached to make it look like an animal print not a footprint.

Desert plant outside the museum.

Cactus garden that leads to the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.

Cactus garden outside the museum.

Kids can drive a jeep!

Directions

The National Border Patrol Museum is located at 4315 Woodrow Bean Transmountain Dr, El Paso TX 79924, call (915) 759-6060.Open 9-5 Tuesday-Saturday.The museum is free, though accepts donations as it is not federally funded.